At
Wrightslaw, our goals are to help you gain the information and skills
you need navigate the confusing world of special education.

Highlights:
Evaluations; how to use an evaluator; factors to consider when selecting
an evaluator; Wrightslaw books; Scratch n' Dent Sale; preparing psycho-educational
reports; mistakes people make - independent evaluators & advocates;
top 5 articles in May; Wrightslaw programs in FL, WA, CA; help from Yellow
Pages for Kids with Disabilities.

Before
parents and educators can make decisions about a child's special education
program, they need accurate diagnostic information about the child's disability,
strengths, weaknesses, and educational needs.

Parents, get a comprehensive
evaluation of your child by an independent evaluator in the private
sector - this evaluation will give you a roadmap for the future. In addition
to information about your child's needs, the evaluation should include a
plan to address your child's problems.

Choose an
evaluator who is independent of the school district and who is willing
to work with the school staff.

2.
Using an Expert as an Effective Resource by Jennifer Bollero,
Esq.
In Using
an Expert as an Effective Resource, attorney-author Jennifer Bollero
explains why parents should rely on advice from trained professionals to
make informed decisions about educational interventions. You will learn
why medical experts should advise parents to seek the best medical and therapeutic
treatments - and why a request for the "best" education from the
school is fatal.

3.
Factors to Consider When Selecting an Evaluator by Rosemary
Palmer, Esq.

In Factors
to Consider When Selecting an Evaluator, attorney Rosemary Palmer
describes the comprehensive evaluation, advantages of multi-disciplinary
evaluation teams, and the roles of members on the team. She explains why
schools and private sector providers need a system to document services.

What do these
current test scores reveal about your child's strengths, weaknesses, educational
needs, and progress? What remediation does your child need? Does your
child need accommodations? Modifications?

Psychologists who testify at due process
hearings are in a unique position to provide hearing officers with information
about appropriate programs and placements. In Preparation
of the Psycho-educational Report, psychologist
Margaret Kay describesbest-practice
guidelines for writing psycho-educational evaluation reports.

Dr. Kay's
article will help you learn about observational data collection from
parents and teachers, process assessment, cognitive assessment, achievement
tests, tests of attention and executive function, tests of emotional and
social status, personality tests, and how various tests should be interpreted.

To make their
case for services or a specific program for their child, parents usually
need a competent, credible independent evaluator. In due process hearings
there is usually no more important witness for the family. Serious
mistakes by evaluators can make undermine their credibility or render
their opinions powerless. To learn about mistakes independent evaluators
should avoid, read
Mistakes Independent Evaluators Make.

Mistakes People Make: Advocates

Because the
non-lawyer advocate plays an extremely important role in the special education
process, advocates must be mindful of the power of their role and the
trust parents place in them. The more serious mistakes advocates may make
are generally ones of excess . . . read Mistakes
Advocates Make

More Mistakes People Make Articles by parent
attorney, Bob Crabtree
Mistakes People Make: Parents. Because the stakes are so high, it
is difficult for parents of children with special educational needs to
advocate calmly and objectively for the educational and related services
their children need.

Mistakes
People Make: Schools. What makes parents angry? Parents are angry
when school personnel take actions that undermine trust, create a negative
climate that destroys peace of mind, and deliver inadequate services to
the child.

7.
Top 5 Articles on Wrightslaw: May 2004

#1. 4
Great Things About Reading in NCLB. Regardless of their "category"
or label, most kids with special educational needs have deficits in reading.
No Child Left Behind includes four legal definitions of reading that attorneys,
advocates, educational consultants, and parents are using to get effective
reading programs.

Knowledge
is power. When you have information and skills, you will be a more effective
advocate for your child. Our role is to help you gain knowledge so you
can negotiate with the school on your child's behalf.

Please
join us for a Wrightslaw Training Program. If you are interested
in bringing Pete and Pam Wright to your community, please read our FAQs
about Seminars. (We are scheduling programs for 2005-2006.)

9.
Need
Help? Visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities

If you are looking for help - or a helper
- visit the Yellow Pages
for Kids with Disabilities. Your state Yellow
Pages has many resources - evaluators, speech language therapists,
tutors, special ed schools, advocates, attorneys, organizations, and
support groups.

Free
Listings in the Yellow Pages: If you help parents get services
for children (i.e., an evaluator, educational consultant, academic tutor,
advocate, attorney, special ed school, etc.) or you facilitate a support
or study group for parents, submit an application be listed in the Yellow
Pages for Kids. Send an email to app@yellowpagesforkids.com
for an application. Listings in the Yellow Pages are free.

The
Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education
legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. Subscribers
receive "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers
on Wrightslaw books.